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After unsuccessful attempts by its GM masters to repackage vehicles in the form of the 9-7X (upscale Chevy TrailBlazer) and 9-2X (Subaru WRX clone), Saab is attempting to re-focus its brand’s cachet by drawing on its core principles of quirky yet attractive styling, highly efficient turbocharged powertrains, and its distinct aerospace heritage.

With the recent introduction of the well-received Turbo X, the coming 9-4X crossover (pictured recently undergoing testing on the Nurburgring) and a badly-needed remake of the 9-5 sedan, along with concepts like the 9-X BioHybrid, the Swedish automaker has serious future plans to reserve itself a seat at the premium-brand table.

This week, Saab USA held a press session outlining the “state of Saab” at one of its revamped dealerships in Southern California. While there, we were given some interesting tidbits regarding the latest news from Saab by U.S. general manager Steve Shannon and communications manager Jan-Willem Vester.

Which is it, all-wheel drive or front drive?

Well, it’s both. As you may or may not know, Saab has recently introduced its 9-3-based 2008 Turbo X, featuring an innovative all-wheel-drive system called the Cross-Wheel Drive or XWD. MT senior editor Ron Kiino first reported on Saab’s latest active stability system while putting the 280-hp Turbo X through its paces and remarked that the XWD system provides more prominent and easier to control oversteer and an “overall balance (that) borders on neutral.” Such traits are especially impressive coming from a manufacturer traditionally known for torque-steer-happy front-drive applications.

Key to the Haldex-built XWD unit is an electronically controlled eLSD that can transfer 40 percent of torque between drive shafts to whichever wheel is gripping the tarmac more. The eLSD is said to dampen yaw enough so the rear wheels effectively follow the direction of the front wheels more closely, thus improving handling dramatically. With this system on the Turbo X, Saab is targeting the Audi S4 and BMW 335xi — two venerable opponents.

Shannon says the XWD system being introduced on the limited-edition 2008 Turbo X will be available on all models within the next 15 months.

More on the Turbo X, new tech and production

Saab is adamant that it won’t increase production of the Turbo X, but Shannon and Vester do mention that roughly 300 of the 600 allotted U.S. cars (2000 will be built worldwide) have been pre-sold. Vester also reveals the automaker expects to build 60 percent of the cars in both SportCombi — Saab’s name for wagon — and sedan in automatic form. The other 40 percent will be equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox.

With the Turbo X at a base price of $42,510 stateside, Saab is beginning to test the premium automotive segment waters with what it calls its “most technically advanced” car ever produced. Technologies such as the XWD stability system and an available turn-by-turn OnStar navigation system with Bluetooth connectivity are aimed to appeal to more affluent buyers who traditionally have not considered the Swedish brand. Eventually, the OnStar system will allow owners to upload MapQuest routes into the system, although it’s still in the beta stages of development and will be a while before it’s available for Saab or GM models.

On the production front, it looks as though the next 9-3 will continue to be built in Sweden at Saab’s Saab’s Trollhattan facility, according to a recent Automotive News report. Previous reports had speculated that 9-3 production would move to GM’s Ruesselsheim, Germany plant. Now it looks as though production of the 9-5 will move to Germany.

This brings us to our next point: Saab wants to compete with the likes of Audi and other German luxury brands starting with its next-generation 9-5 sedan. According to Shannon, the car will share much of its technology and powertrain options with other GM sedans (mainly the Cadillac CTS) and will be introduced by the fourth quarter of 2009 as a 2010 model. Marketing efforts for the car will position it as a premium luxury vehicle without the associated price tag.

Also thrown into Saab’s luxury market foray will be its upcoming 2010 9-4X Crossover that Shannon says also can be expected by the fourth quarter of next year. He further revealed the production version maintains some “97 percent” of the styling characteristics first displayed on the 9-4X concept seen at this years Detroit auto show and “will be the size of an X5 at the cost of an X3.” As expected, the crossover will employ GM’s all-new “Premium Theta” two-row architecture that will likely find its way underneath the 2010 Cadillac BRX, or SRX, depending on whom you ask.

Fittingly, the 9-4X was recently spotted undergoing high-speed testing on Germany’s famed Nurburgring wearing a full camouflage guise. Judging from what we’ve seen and heard so far, it’s clear Saab and GM are genuinely serious about giving Germany’s finest a run for their money.

Oil Burners and More Efficient Cars

European 9-3 and 9-5 models are available with diesel engines, as will the upcoming 9-4X crossover when it hits European markets. Why doesn’t Saab bring the diesels our way? It boils down to pure economics. According to Saab’s PR team, the challenge is recouping costs associated with converting the existing powertrains to stringent U.S. 50-state-legal specifications.

With CAFE looming on the horizon, Shannon says that Saab has a dedicated “army of people” primarily focused on the downsizing of future cars, the development of more efficient turbocharged engines and the researching of lightweight composite components to be used throughout its vehicle line-up. Fine-tuning its E85 drivetrain first demonstrated on the 9-X BioHybrid concept in Geneva is also a priority on Saab’s future car agenda. The latest intel indicates that Saab is also developing a car based on the 9-X concept.

Shannon is quick to point out that although there have been no plans for U.S.-market models to receive turbocharged diesel engines, 80 percent of Saab models currently can employ an efficient four-cylinder turbo powertrain.

A bit of motorsport for the Saab enthusiast. Motorsport has always been infused in Saab’s DNA since its inception after WWII, but you most likely won’t see its triumphant return to the rally arena anytime soon. As much as Saab officials (and we) would like the automaker to compete, it’s currently an endeavor deemed too expensive for the relatively small automaker to undertake. If anything, Shannon mentioned that the extent of Saab’s motorsport involvement could possibly include another Pikes Peak race or Talladega Speedway run, not World Rally Championship.

All in, Saab has high hopes of gradually building upon its modest 135,000 unit worldwide sales in 2007. The coming new product and technology will certainly help, but with the present gloomy American economic environment, it’s tough to say whether the small Scandinavian company will be able to gain any more traction in the U.S. especially anytime soon.